Cooling and heating system for internal-combustion engines



F. 'W. SPRINGER.

COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. I9II.

1 43,967 I Patented Dec. 5, 1922..

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

F. W. SPRINGER.

COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APRB 12, 1917.

1,438,067.. Patented Dec. 5, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

warren YES TENT OFFICE.

ERANKLIN WESLEY SPRINGER. OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

Application filed April 12, 1917. Serial No. 161,685.

T 0 all w from it may c'oncem Be it known that I, FRANKLIN IVEsLEYSPRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, inthe county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Cooling and Heating Systems forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.v

My invention relates to cooling and heating systems for internalcombustion engines and has for its object to provide a device forquickly bringing the cooling or heating fluid to a desired temperatureand for maintaining the cooling or heating fluid at a substantiallyconstant temperature. In carrying out my objects I employ an expansiblethermostatic member responsive to changes in temperature which isconnected by a system of multiplying levers to a valve positioned withinthe outlet pipe of the cooling system leading from the engine. Thismember and lever system is so connected as to cause an opening of thevalve suitable to throttle the flow of fluid, an amount suflicient tocause the same to be quickly heated and to maintain a substantiallyconstant temperature about the engine cylinders. Another object of myinvention is to provide a device which can readily be applied toexisting forms of motors without reconstruction. A still further objectis to construct the valve casing and operating mechanism so that thesame may bereadily removed or inserted from or into the containinghousing for the purpose of inspection or readjustment.

Still another use of my invention is in connection with the heatingsystem of a carburetor of an internal combustion engine wherein thecarburetor or the pipe leading from the carburetor to the engine isheated by the" engine exhaust or by the heated cooling fluid from theengine cylinders. In such a case the thermostatically controlled valvemay be placed in the outlet pipe of the carburetor heating system and soarranged that the carburetor may be quickly brought to the desiredtemperature and automatically maintained at that temperature. It is wellknown that both engines and carburetors function best at certaintemperatures, and not so well when either hotter or colder than thoserespective temperatures.

The only difference between this use and that in connection with thecylinder cooling system is that the thermostatic valve shall beinitially open instead of closed, its opera tron being the same; in factit is entirely possible to use the same valve for either purpose in somecases.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will be found in thedetailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings illustrating the application of my invention in severalsomewhat different forms in which my inventive idea may be embodied:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an internal combustion engine showingthe application of my invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the valve, with thevalve in the closed position, and operating mechanism of my inventiondrawn to a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the valve open.

Figure 4 is a. sectional view through a valve casing taken on line l ofFigure 2 wit-h the valve and its operating mechanism appearing in topplan.

Figures 5 and 6, are views similar to Figures 2 and 3, respectively. ofmodified forms of my invention.

The application of my invention to an en gine will be comprehended fromFigure 1. An ordinary engine 10 is shown. which is provided with aliquid cooling system of ordinary construction having inlet and outletpipes 11 and 12, respectively, leading to and from the engine. Thesepipes are connected to the top and bottom of a radiator 13 which iscooled by a fan 14: in the usual manner. In the engine shown a thermosyphon cooling system is employed. This system lends itself readily tothe adoption of my invention. As the valve member of my invention ispositioned in the outlet pipe of the system it becomes evident that thesame can not be employed where a positively acting circulating pump isused. When however a nonpositive centrifugal pump or'another form ofpump is used wherein sufficient slippage may occur the same results maybe obtained as in the above specified system. In the case of an aircooled engine, the cooling fluid actuated by a fan would also permit thenecessary slippage so that a similar valve of large size would operatein the same way in the air outlet pipe from the engine.

The valve and operating mechanism of my invention is shown in detail inFigures 2. 3 and 1. A casing 15 is formed to receive the same and isprovided with a cover member 16. which is secured thereto by screws 17.On the cover 16 is formed a tubular extension 18 by which the device maybe connected at one end to the outlet pipe 12. A similar extension 19formed on the side of casing 15 opposite to extension 18 serves the samepurpose. The connection to pipe 12 may be made by. a pair of hosecouplings 20 and 21, which are held in place by hose clamps 22 ofordinary construction. In this manner a continuous passageway is formedthrough the pipe 12 which is enlarged at 23 to re ceive the valve andoperating mechanism. The longitudinal passageway through the pipe 12thereafter continues longitudinally through the casing and the casing ineffect constitutes a pipe section which is preferably somewhat larger indiameter than the main .portion of the pipe.

The valve proper is of the butterfly type and consists of a disc 21which is formed with ears 25 and 26 raised above the plane thereof andsituated on opposite sides near the periphery of said disc. A pair ofscrews 27 and 28 constructed with pivots 29 at the ends thereof arescrewed into a pair of bosses 30 formed in casing 15 and engagecorresponding sockets 32 in ears 25 and 26. thus forming the axis ofoscillation of the disc 21. lVhen these screws are screwed up tight asutficiently tight. arrangement is secured by means of which the valvedisc 21 is permitted to oscillate freely. 'hen in the closed position asis shown in Figure 2. disc 21 engages the lower wall of casing 15 andalso a lip 33 formed on the upper portion of said casing and inclined atabout an angle of 15, the disc having the same obliquity.

Fpon the center of disc 21 is secured an expansible hollow member 31 bymeans of a threaded lug which screws into a boss 36 formed on saidplate. Member 31 comprises two corrugated disc pieces 37 and 38 whichare soldered together at the periphery thereof and which have inclosedbetween the same a volatile liquid having a suitable boiling point. Disc37 is secured to lug piece 35 and disc 38 has secured to it a similarpiece 39 which is formed with a wedge or protrusion 10.

lfpon the upper portion of disc 21 is formed an arm 11 to which ispivoted a lever 12 extending across the wedge or protrusion and towardsthe lower portion of the disc; This lever is formed with a similar wedgeor protrusion 11 which engages another lever 15 pivoted to an arm 16 onthe lower portion of disc 21, which lever extends above the first. namedlever and engages by direct contact a lug 17 cast on the under side ofthe portion of case 15. As will be noted the levers are so arranged asto cause a relatively large movement of the end of the lever 15 for asmall movement of the point 10 relative to disc 21. If desired themember 31 may be simply loosely positioned upon the plate 21 withoutdirect attachment thereto, being held in place by the lugs 25 and 26 andthe ears 11 and 16.

To hold the valve in the closed position I employ a spring 18 which issecured at. one end to the arm 11 and at. the other end to a slideablerod 19 extending through the casing 15. Rod 19 is manipulated fromwithout by a knurled head 50 and is held in place by a set screw 51. Theoperation of the device is as follows. \Vhen the engine is cold valve 21is positioned as shown in Figure 2. After the engine is started theheated fluid from the cylinders rises to the top and comes in contactwith the expansible member 31. As soon as the cooling fluid becomesheated sufliciently said member commences to expand and the wedge orprojection 10 acts upon lever 12 forcing it outward. At. the same timelever 12 acts in a similar manner upon lcver 15, which being relativelydeprived of motion in the direction imparted through lever 12 by stop orlug 17 or wall 15 causes the whole device or the member 31 and disc 21to oscillate relative to the casing and open the valve. This permits thecooling fluid to flow and become cooled by the radiator. By supplying aproper gas within member 31 and by properly adjusting the tension ofspring 18 the device can be made to operate within small limits oftemperature and can hence maintain the temperature of the cooling fluidcoiistant within a variation of a few degrees.

To prevent the valve from passing the horizontal position when the heatfrom the cooling fluid is excessive I provide a thumb screw 52 whichengages the lower side of plate 21 and serves as a stop. therebypreventing movement of the valve beyond the fully open position. Thisscrew is provided with a stuffing box 53 which serves to prevent leakageand also hold the screw set after .the correct position of the same isdetermined. A similar screw and stuffing box 51 and 55 are used to raisethe valve by hand so as to render the device inoperable when desired andalso to adjust for a desired small initial opening of the valve.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In thismodification 21 different form of expansible member is used which isshown at 56 and which is constructed so as to expand almost entirelyfrom one side of the plane of the union of the disc elements thereof.This member also serves as the valve proper and is formed with suitablesockets 57 in its periphery in which the aforementioned pivots 29 may bescrewed. Upon the movable face or member 56 is mounted a plate 58,

, ders is attained. The fully opened position of the valve is shown inFigure 6.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple deviceis provided which is positive in action, cheap to construct and install.The space occu-' pied bythe device is relatively short so that the samemay be installed on existing engines without reconstructing or" greatlychanging the same. The parts arequite accessible and may be *readilyexchanged and readjusted. In all of the forms of my invention hereindisclosed the arrangement of the thermostatic disc is such that itsperipheral plane extends longitudinally of the passageway when the valveis in open position whereby the thermostatic disc offers the leastpossible obstruction when free flow of fluid is desired.

I claim:

1. In a fluid circulating system means for regulating the flow of fluidresponsive to temperature changes comprising a swinging valve member, athermostatic member mounted on the valve member and means associatedwith a fixed part of the device for oscillating the valve andthermostatic member from the movements of the thermostatic member.

2. In a fluid circulating system, means for'regulating the flow offluidresponsive to temperature changes comprising a swinging thermostaticdisc member, and means connected therewith and actuated by-the movementof said member for oscillating the same to regulate the flow of fluidthru the system.

3. In a fluid circulating system, means for regulating the flow offluid-responsive to temperature changes comprising a rotatable valve,'athermostatic member mounted on said valve and movable therewith, and asystem of levers mounted on said valve and having a member thereofanchored to a fixed portion ofthe system and adapted to transmitoscillatory movement to the valve and thermostatic member from themoveand adapted to oscillate with it, a lever pivoted to said disc,extending across said thermostatic member and adapted to be oscillatedby the movement of the same a second lever pivoted to the disc extendingabove the first lever and adapted to be oscillated by said last namedlever and having a free end engaging the casing so that an oscillatorymotion is given the disc as the thermostatic member expands.

5. In a fluid circulating system, means for regulating the flow of fluidresponsive to temperature changes comprising a casing having apassageway, a valve in said casing adapted to open and close saidpassageway, a thermostatic member mounted on said valve for movementtherewith, and means for operating said valve by expansion andcontraction of said thermostatic member.

6. In a fluid circulating system, means for regulating the flow of fluidresponsive to temperature changes comprising a casing having alongitudinal assageway therethrough, a swinging va ve in said casing, athermostatic disc member mountedon said valve for movement therewith,means for mounting said valve and thermostatic mem, her so that thtfyoccupy an inclined position when said valve is closed and a longitudinalposition when said valve is open, and means for oscillating said valveand thermostatic member by expansion and contraction of saidthermostatic member.

Witnesses: FRANK CLEWORTH,

Geo. W. MILLER.

